Salvage profitable?

[CapuchinSeven]

Hey, just a random question. Is running salvage missions and also returning random life pods actually profitable?
Was thinking of giving it a try in a FDS for fun but I could use some in game cash right now so would prefer it to actually be worth it.

 

[Andovar]

Not really.
You might find some decent paying salvage missions, but the payouts from the search and rescue contact is virtually nothing.
To me the S&R stuff feels like a placeholder for now.

 

[Leo Sagan]

If you are after credits, farming money is way better (exploits, palin etc.).

If you're after roleplay, FD gave us a special contact (the search and rescue agent) for salvage , escape pods etc. Right now, the rewards are meaningless. Still, the simple fact the contact exists now is a step in the right direction if you ask me : GG FD.

If you're into groups, you might be interested in MediCorp (more details here). These guys are specialized in rescue / salvage missions. Interesting emergent gameplay right there

 

[Pumabear8]

Salvage seems more profitable outside missions, it doesn't take long to encounter a USS, jump in, grab what's floating around, sell at nearest station for 100% profit(minus fuel costs), and this still increases your standing with the faction and trading rank.

I used to fill my cargo hold with planetary junk, but found it easier and faster entering USS.

 

[insanephoton]

In general terms, yes, unless you're very unlucky. The caveat is that there are other things with better earning potential. For space based salvage mission e.g. 'recover black box' missions I'd recommend fitting a collector limpet controller for convenience and fitting good shields and other defensive measures just in case. Sometimes these missions will spawn a wing of pirates that will try to interfere with the recovery, your option are either fight them or leave (be sure to have a nearby system locked in to jump to if you need to 'high wake'). Limpets can be useful in this situation as you can recover a single item, leave and then return , if there are multiple items to recover.

Surface based salvage missions are quite simple and are usually very low risk. Fitting a planetary vehicle hangar and SRV is highly recommended for these missions. Sometimes you'll find the sites guarded by skimmers. These are easily dealt with from an SRV. Whatever you do , don't try ramming them with your ship

 

[Conch]

If you are after credits, farming money is way better (exploits, palin etc.).

If you're after roleplay, FD gave us a special contact (the search and rescue agent) for salvage , escape pods etc. Right now, the rewards are meaningless. Still, the simple fact the contact exists now is a step in the right direction if you ask me : GG FD.

If you're into groups, you might be interested in MediCorp (more details here). These guys are specialized in rescue / salvage missions. Interesting emergent gameplay right there

S&R is just another commodities market for some other commodities that pay really bad.


i dont see what innovating about it.

 

[Mengy]

Profitable, yes, but not by much. S&R can cover your fuel and restocking costs, but if you take damage from hard landings or getting attacked then it probably won't even cover your operating costs. Currently S&R is very bad at earning credits, which is a real shame because I find S&R one of the more enjoyable ways to play the game.

I used to fill my cargo hold with planetary junk, but found it easier and faster entering USS.

Yeah, USS salvaging is faster, but I enjoy surface salvaging a lot more. I've often just flown around surfaces looking for signal sources and then using the SRV to plunder them. Next to exploring it's my favorite way to play Elite. I've gone surface salvaging in everything from my Keelback to my Cobra III, even in my Clipper or my T6/T7/T9. I do wish Frontier made it pay better though, S&R deserves more development balancing and attention.

 

[RidingTheFlow]

S&R was added (quite long time) after people complained that pods were "illegal salvage" and said "we just want to feel good for rescuing them - we don't need big rewards". So that was one of cases when FDev explicitly listened to community - or, at least, parts of community they wanted to listen to

 

[Leo Sagan]

S&R was added (quite long time) after people complained that pods were "illegal salvage"

True but incomplete by my book. As a veteran, I cannot help remembering that during the kickstarter campaign and in the original DDF, a lot of GREAT suggestions and ideas were made / given about salvage. The "illegal salvage" infamy was the last nail in the coffin. Frankly, salvage and rescue could give birth to a whole branch of gameplay and emergent gameplay. I really hope FD will work on that in Beyond and ... beyond

 

[Pumabear8]

S&R was added (quite long time) after people complained that pods were "illegal salvage" and said "we just want to feel good for rescuing them - we don't need big rewards". So that was one of cases when FDev explicitly listened to community - or, at least, parts of community they wanted to listen to

I could never figure out why they were illegal salvage in the first place, on the open sea, it's an obligation to rescue people in lifeboats.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Even before the S&R contact, decent money could be made from salvaging cargo - legal cargo.
Salvaging cargo got me out of my first Sidewinder and into an Adder and then into a Viper IV.

Platinum, Palladium, Jadite, Moissanite, Taaffitie.. all good stuff, just laying around to be picked up.